Heat Radio Launches

1841938 — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 14:08:11 GMT

So, i'm sitting here at Deegan Towers listening to the newly launched <a href="http://www.heatradio.co.uk">Heat Radio</a>. Well, that should probably be re-launched as a non-stop music version's been on-air for about two years. The launch at 2pm today, is the culmination of a re-jig of EMAP's multiplex network, resulting in the appearance of 'Heat Radio' in more places around the UK and at a slightly more ear-palatable bitrate, if you're interested in that sort of thing. It also has, shock horror for an EMAP digital radio station, actual live presenters.

They're also integrating tightly with the <a href="http://www.heatworld.com">Heat World</a> website and connections with Heat Magazine editorial staff. It's actually surprisingly speech heavy with 1 minute entertainment news every fifteen minutes (well, at the moment anyway) alongside interview clips and general presenter chatter.

It's as you'd expect quite girly with the music pitched as a slightly more credible Heart.

They're also doing a good job of integrating this show's only commercial sponsor - Diet Coke (Heat has just five premium sponsors across the station) in a sailing close to the programming code kind of way.

It will be interesting to see if it can keep the momentum.

Emap Disposals

1841938 — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 12:06:47 GMT

There's been a great deal of discussion recently about EMAP demerging its business or selling off chunks to anyone with a large enough cheque.

The nature of EMAP's business is going to make that difficult for whoever's going to cast an eye over the main consumer brands.

EMAP has led the way in producing cross-platform entities, all of which reinforce each other. Would Smash Hits Radio do (apparently) so well, if there wasn't a TV station that supported it? What happens to the support Heat magazine is giving the relaunched Heat Radio if they go their separate ways?

In an ideal world the buyer would scoop up all the branded bits together, for Kerrang this would include the magazine, website, events, TV and radio - but are the potential buyers - GCap, GMG and Global have all been mooted - really geared up to run all of those different businesses? And if they stretch their core competencies will the brands they've paid handsomely for start to lose their value.

There is also a fly in the ointment with regards the TV channels. EMAP has of course just flogged off half of the TV operation (The Hits, Smash Hits, Kerrang, The Box, Kiss, Magic, Q) to Channel 4. EMAP's had enough trouble keeping each of the platforms 'on brand' and that's when they own them all, it's going to be hugely difficult when these are all owned by separate companies.

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Heat Radio Launches

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